Salem, OR Local Data & Statistics

State: OR

Total population: 178,865 Household income: $75,487 Rent: $1,400

Overview

Total population

178,865

Rent

$1,400

Year built

1980

Household income

$75,487

Per capita income

$38,066

Poverty rate

14.4%

Unemployment rate

4.2%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

53.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Oregon

Total population

178,865

Adults over 25

120,496

Total households

67,629

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$75,487

Per capita income

$38,066

Poverty rate

14.4%

Unemployment rate

4.2%

Rent over 30% of income

53.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,400

Year built

1980

Households that rent

44.1%

Households that own

55.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

66.3%

Black

1.7%

Asian

3.6%

Two or more races

16.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

25.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

74.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

84.2%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

15.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

34.1%

High school graduate or GED

23.1%

Some college or associate degree

11.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

31.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Salem, OR with: Oregon United States

Salem, OR

Total population178,865

Rent$1,400

Year built1980

Household income$75,487

Per capita income$38,066

Poverty rate14.4%

Unemployment rate4.2%

Oregon State

Total population4,254,293

Rent$1,525

Year built1981

Household income$83,011

Per capita income$45,612

Poverty rate11.9%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CitySalem, OR	StateOregon	CountryUnited States
Total population	178,865	4,254,293	334,922,499
Rent	$1,400	$1,525	$1,413
Year built	1980	1981	1980
Household income	$75,487	$83,011	$80,734
Per capita income	$38,066	$45,612	$44,673
Poverty rate	14.4%	11.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.2%	4.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Salem, OR, Oregon and United States →

Summary for Salem, OR

Salem is located in Oregon.

Rent & Income

In Salem, the typical monthly rent is $1,400 and the typical household income is $75,487. Rent here is lower than Oregon and similar to the U.S., and household income is lower than both Oregon and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 14.4%, which is higher than in both Oregon and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 44.1% of households. About 53.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 31.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.2%, which is similar to both Oregon and the national rate.

Salem, OR — Rent vs Household Income

Salem, OR — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Salem, OR compares in Oregon (12 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,400	5 / 12	from lower rent	$1,258 – $1,978
Household income	$75,487	8 / 12	from higher income	$65,012 – $108,823
Poverty rate	14.4%	9 / 12	from lower poverty	6.7% – 24.3%
Unemployment rate	4.2%	8 / 12	from lower unemployment	3.8% – 4.6%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Oregon with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Salem, OR

Rent

Salem ranks 5th out of 12 large places in Oregon for rent. Statewide rents range from $1,258 in Springfield, OR to $1,978 in Hillsboro, OR.

Household income

Salem ranks 8th among 12 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $65,012 in Corvallis, OR to $108,823 in Tigard, OR.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Salem is ranked 9th among 12 major areas. Across Oregon, poverty runs from 6.7% in Tigard, OR to 24.3% in Corvallis, OR.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Salem is ranked 8th out of 12 major areas. Across Oregon, rates go from 3.8% in Corvallis, OR up to 4.6% in Albany, OR.

💰 Rent in Salem, OR (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,400 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Salem, OR

Annual Household Income: $75,487

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Salem, OR

Estimated Rate: 14.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Salem, OR

In Salem, OR, households that rent: 29,817 (44.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	29,817	44.1%
Owner-Occupied	37,812	55.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Salem, OR

In Salem, OR, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 15,947 (53.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	15,947	53.5%
Other renter households	13,870	46.5%
Total renter households	29,817	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Salem, OR

Less than High School: 41,079 people (34.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 27,782 people (23.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 13,711 people (11.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 37,924 people (31.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 120,496

📊 Unemployment Rate in Salem, OR

Estimated Rate: 4.2%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Ontario, CA178,347 Aurora, IL179,867 Eugene, OR177,520 Elk Grove, CA177,221 Santa Rosa, CA177,216 Cary, NC176,686 Chattanooga, TN182,832 Fort Lauderdale, FL183,032 Rancho Cucamonga, CA174,693 Shreveport, LA183,483

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.